I’m Keith Perez—a husband, father, worship leader, and designer based in Illinois.
I run then, create, where I help churches and venues design and install audio/visual systems. I also produce and mix music, and lead worship at The Table.
This site is my digital garden—a place where I think out loud about faith, masculinity, marriage, and what it looks like to become the kind of man worth following.
My Story
In my senior year of high school, I was drifting. Lying to my parents, sneaking around rules, doing my own thing on my own terms.
That summer—2008—my youth group went to Acquire the Fire. Before I left, my mom looked at me and said, “Keith, don’t be surprised when they tell you that you’re going to face a choice—to follow God or follow destruction. You’re at a fork in the road.”
Later that weekend, Ron Luce said almost the exact same thing, with the same hand gesture. That moment wrecked me. I knew I had to make a choice. That night, I chose Jesus.
Soon after, I enrolled in Rockford Master’s Commission. That year was where I encountered God in a way I still carry to this day—raw worship, deep community, and a hunger for presence that shaped everything after.
The Path Since
The story didn’t go how I thought it would. There were plans for Europe, touring, building something big. Instead, God rooted me here.
After RMC, I became a youth leader, then transitioned into worship leading at The Life church in Lisle. When leadership changed, I stepped into the worship director role and helped shape a culture that didn’t just play songs—we pursued the heart of God.
Along the way, God placed me in a family. I met Julianna on the worship team. We dated, got married in 2019, and now serve together at The Table.
What I Do Now
Worship — I lead worship at The Table in Illinois, bringing prophetic and presence-driven worship to our community.
Audio/Visual Design — Through then, create, I help churches and venues build systems that serve their vision.
Music Production — I mix and produce music for artists, with a focus on modern worship and alternative sounds.
Writing — This site. I write about masculinity, ambition, fatherhood, and faith—working ideas I’m still living into.
Connect
- then, create — AV design business
- Oro En Marrow — Music on Spotify